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Bangladesh failed to defend 205 runs as the UAE pulled off their record chase in the penultimate ball of the match to win the second T20I by two wickets and level the extended three-match series 1-1 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. 

The hosts needed 29 runs off the last 12 balls when Bangladesh seemed to be in the driving seat. Shoriful Islam dismissed Alishan Sharafu on the first ball to seemingly seal the deal for the Tigers. 

But Shoriful conceded 17 off the last five balls; five of those runs came via an overthrow when the left-armer missed an easy chance of a run out. 

Tanzim Hasan, who gave away 43 runs in his first three overs, conceded eight off his first two deliveries when he came to deliver the final over. 

He saw the back of Dhruv Parashar on the third ball, but the hosts somehow managed four runs in the next two legitimate deliveries to clinch a historic win, which was their only fourth against a full-member nation (the previous ones came against Ireland, Afghanistan, and New Zealand). 

Bangladesh’s bowling was clueless when the dew came in, but their fielding was not professional throughout the innings, which cost them dearly. 

UAE, however, bossed the first part of their chase as captain Muhammad Waseem and Muhammad Zohaib scored 107 runs in the opening stand in the first 10 overs. 

Tanvir Islam finally got the breakthrough in the 11th over when Zohaib sliced one after making 38 off 34. 

Rishad then got rid of Rahul Chopra in the next over; he might have gotten Waseem on 64 as well had Hridoy not dropped the catch in the same over. 

Waseem made sure Bangladesh paid the price as he added 38 more runs off 22 balls with Asif Khan. 

However, Shoriful brought Bangladesh back into the fight by dismissing Waseem—who made 82 off 42—thanks to a diving catch from wicketkeeper Jaker Ali. 

But the hosts kept fighting as Dhruv Parashar (11 off 7) and Haider Ali (15* off 9) denied backing off. They were on a mission to make it a historic night for the hosts, who never had chased more than 179 previously. 

Earlier, Bangladesh’s innings followed the same trajectory as the first match. But the only difference was this time they got to the 200-mark thanks to a better powerplay in terms of scoring. 

Bangladesh, who made four changes in the eleven, got off to a flying start thanks to Tanzid Hasan, who started the proceedings with two fours and a six in the first over off Matiullah Khan. 

Tanzid, along with captain Liton Das—who came to open the innings in the absence of Parvez Hossain, who didn’t play in the match due to an injury-scar—added 66 runs in the powerplay. 

Left-hander Tanzid continued to find the gaps even after the fielding restriction as he reached fifty in 25 balls. He finally fell off debutant Saghir Khan after making 59 off 33, where he hit eight fours and three sixes. 

Tanzid added 90 runs with Liton for the opening stand, which was Bangladesh’s seventh highest. 

Liton, however, failed to capitalise on the start he got, as he was dismissed for 40 off 32 in the 13th over despite having two reprieves. 

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who came back in the eleven, helped to keep the scoreboard ticking in the middle overs by adding 35 and 38 runs with Liton and Towhid Hridoy, respectively. Though Shanto contributed only six runs in the latter one. 

Hridoy’s 45 off 24 and Jaker’s cameo of 18 from just six balls helped Bangladesh to breach the 200-mark. 

But that proved to be not enough in the end.